This performance of Geshwin's 'An American in Paris' by Peter Noke and Julian Hellaby was recorded at a recent concert given in the north of England.
Due to Gershwin's practice of composing orchestral works at the piano and then arranging two-piano versions prior to orchestration, scores for two pianos exist of many of his compositions. In January1928, Gershwin began serious work on an ochestral concert piece and went to Paris in March to seek inspiration. He returned to New York in mid June with the completed two-piano version of 'An American in Paris'. Gershwin did not publish this version but instead made a gift of it to his publisher, after which the score was forgotten about for many years. In 1980, at the urging of the French duo Katia and Marielle Labeque, George's younger brother Ira found and bought the original two-piano score, and its world premiere performance and recording by the Labeques followed in 1984. The orchestral score mainly tracks the two-piano version but the latter contains some material that Gershwin cut out when he orchestrated the work.
That theme with the repeated notes will haunt me all evening now, thanks! ;-)
Very nice playing by the way, great stuff!
pianopera 1 month ago
@pianopera Thanks - oddly enough, themes from this piece continue to go round in my head ... !
paulprocopolis 1 month ago
Very enjoyable! Some joyful scenes of this movie came to my mind again, thank you!
morinoroba 1 month ago
@morinoroba
Thanks, and yes, it's a great movie!
paulprocopolis 1 month ago